Auntie Mary Louise

My mom’s sister Mary Louise passed away Friday at the age of 97. She owned one of the farms we used to stay at when I was little. I remember eating rhubarb conserves straight out of the jar. I still think of her every time I make my strawberry-rhubarb sauce. One of my duties was to collect the eggs and I was shocked at the difference between fresh eggs and the ones I’d been eating all of my life. Auntie Mary Louise was quick to laugh, and she was one of my mom’s favorite siblings.

In spite of the short notice and biting weather of Alberta, I agreed immediately to accompany my mom to Mary Louise’s funeral. We flew in Sunday to spend the first part of the week at my cousin Maureen’s. She is the daughter of my mom’s sister Loretta.

Everyone in my family seems to have the good cook gene. Here are two of Mary Louise’s best-known recipes.